SLIDE DOOR SUPPORT DEVICE
A slide door support device supports a slide door that opens and closes a door opening formed on a side surface of a vehicle body. The slide door support device includes first and second lower rails and a lower guide unit. The lower guide unit includes a first lower guide roller moving along the first lower rail, a second lower guide roller moving along the second lower rail, a lower fixed portion fixed to the slide door, a lower rotational arm rotatable relative to the lower fixed portion and supporting the first and second lower guide rollers, and a pressing member pressing the lower fixed portion. An arm angle made by the lower fixed portion and the lower rotational arm gradually decreases as an opened degree of the slide door decreases. The pressing member presses the lower fixed portion in a direction of increasing the arm angle.
1 . A slide door support device supporting, at a vehicle body, a slide door that opens and closes a door opening formed on a side surface of the vehicle body, comprising:
a first lower rail arranged at a lower end portion of the door opening;
a second lower rail arranged at a lower end portion of the door opening and on an inner side of the first lower rail in a vehicle width direction; and
a lower guide unit connected to a lower end portion of the slide door, wherein
the first lower rail includes a straight portion extending to a vehicle front, and a curved portion curved so as to extend inward in a vehicle width direction as a position shifts from a front end of the straight portion to a vehicle front,
the second lower rail includes a straight portion extending to a vehicle front, and a curved portion curved in such a way that a distance from the first lower rail gradually decreases as a position shifts from a front end of the straight portion to a vehicle front,
the lower guide unit includes: a first lower guide roller moving along the first lower rail; a second lower guide roller moving along the second lower rail; a lower fixed portion fixed to the slide door; a lower rotational arm including a proximal end portion connected so as to be rotatable relative to the lower fixed portion and supporting the first lower guide roller and the second lower guide roller at positions closer to a distal end than the proximal end portion; and a pressing member pressing the lower fixed portion,
an angle made by the lower fixed portion and the lower rotational arm is assumed to be an arm angle,
when the first lower guide roller moves along a straight portion and a curved portion of the first lower rail, and the second lower guide roller moves along a curved portion of the second lower rail, the arm angle gradually decreases as an opened degree of the slide door decreases, and the pressing member presses the lower fixed portion in a direction of increasing the arm angle.
2 . The slide door support device according to claim 1 , wherein,
as the arm angle decreases, the pressing member increases pressing force to the lower fixed portion.
3 . The slide door support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the arm angle becomes maximum when the first lower guide roller moves along a straight portion of the first lower rail, and the second lower guide roller moves along a straight portion of the second lower rail, and
the pressing member presses the lower fixed portion even when the arm angle is maximum.
4 . The slide door support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the pressing member is a spiral spring.
5 . The slide door support device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper rail arranged at an upper end portion of the door opening; and
an upper guide unit connected to an upper end portion of the slide door, wherein
the upper rail includes a straight portion extending to a vehicle front, and a curved portion curved so as to extend inward in a vehicle width direction as a position shifts from a front end of the straight portion to a vehicle front, and
the upper guide unit includes: a first upper guide roller and a second upper guide roller that move along the upper rail; an upper load roller rolling on a rolling surface that extends along the upper rail; and an upper rotational arm including a proximal end portion connected so as to be rotatable relative to the slide door and supporting the first upper guide roller, the second upper guide roller, and the upper load roller at positions closer to a distal end than the proximal end portion.
6 . The slide door support device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an upper rail arranged at an upper end portion of the door opening; and
an upper guide unit connected to an upper end portion of the slide door, wherein
the upper rail includes a straight portion extending to a vehicle front, and a curved portion curved so as to extend inward in a vehicle width direction as a position shifts from a front end of the straight portion to a vehicle front, and
the upper guide unit includes: a first upper guide roller and a second upper guide roller that move along the upper rail; an upper load roller rolling on a rolling surface that extends along the upper rail; and an upper rotational arm including a proximal end portion connected so as to be rotatable relative to the slide door and supporting the first upper guide roller, the second upper guide roller, and the upper load roller at positions closer to a distal end than the proximal end portion.
7 . The slide door support device according to claim 5 , wherein
the upper rail includes the rolling surface.
8 . The slide door support device according to claim 5 , wherein
the lower rotational arm has a shape of a flat plate.
9 . The slide door support device according to claim 6 , wherein
the lower rotational arm has a shape of a flat plate.